Monday, May 6, 2013

Weekly Events & Opportunities

Exploring
the Environmental and Economic Opportunities and Challenges of Cover Crops
WebinarMay 7. This
webinar sponsored by the USDA NRCS Central National Technology Support Center
will enable participants to make informed decisions about cover crop adoption.
This webinar will provide an overview of cover crops, from their benefits and
challenges, to examples of how they can be incorporated into common crop
rotations. Included in this webinar will be an economic cost-benefit analysis
of cover crops, particularly for the Midwest and Great Plains. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/exploring-the-environmental-and-economic-opportunities-and-challenges-of-cover-crops

Organic Labeling WebinarMay 9. This CCOF webinar gives new insight into the most common mistakes
companies make with their organic labels, and defines a step-by-step process
for developing labels that comply with the USDA National Organic Program. After
this webinar, you will understand the relevance of product composition and
percentage calculations to your product claim, the correct use of the CCOF and
USDA seals, ingredient lists, and the steps in the CCOF label approval process.
http://www.ccof.org/events/organic-labeling-webinar-0

Answers About Organic WebinarMay 9. This webinar will give participants an overview of the organic
certification process, what it takes to transition, and the resources available
to make the change. The webinar is sponsored by the NRCS West National
Technology Support Center, in partnership with Oregon Tilth. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/answers-about-organic

Outreach:
What Social Factors "Sell" Landowners on Agroforestry Practices

May 9. 1:00pm. You have a great product! Your prices are right in line with the
competition! Your quality is outstanding! So, what is the next step in direct
marketing success? Well a good place to start is by learning who your customers
are, what they think of your products and who is buying what. We'll take a look
at some ways that you can learn more about your customers and your sales and
use what you learn to improve your bottom line. We'll take a look at simple,
quick and inexpensive ways to collect information as well as some more involved
strategies that will get you more detailed results. Most of the information
will be directed at individual vendors but many of the ideas can be adapted by
managers to assess whole markets. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/etc-cop

HARTINGTON
— Martin Kleinschmit has taken some extreme measures to cut his electric
bill. Kleinschmit, rural Hartington, had a 36-panel unit of solar photovoltaic
(p.v.) panels installed last October with the goal of cutting his electricity
bill in half by October 2013. This project is certainly not his first nor will
it be his last in the renewable energy field. He started working with the Small
Farm Energy Project in 1977, which was located in Hartington. “We started
looking at different options and our goal then was to see if we could be energy
self-sufficient as farmers,” he said. “So, that kind of started it all.” The
SFEP, which was comprised of area farmers, developed inventions such as a solar
powered water heater for dairies and farm houses and participated in money
saving practices like composting manure. Read the rest here, http://www.hartington.net/2013/hartington/area-man-uses-solar-panels-to-reduce-energy-consumption

Upcoming

Using Native Grasses for Livestock

May 14. 1:00 pm. This webinar will increase conservation planning knowledge and
skills to use native grasses as part of a managed grazing system in the eastern
U.S. Details of native grasses and the recommended species to use for various
purposes, along with establishment challenges, grazing management practices,
and ensuring sustainability of these grasses will be discussed. The presenter
will address how native grasses can be used to add production to the warm
season to complement typical cool-season grass-dominant pastures.
Nutritional values of native grasses will be included in the presentation. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/using-native-grasses-for-livestock-in-the-eastern-u.s

Wheatland
High Tunnel Build Workshop

Tuesday, May
14 – Friday, May 17. Wheatland Middle School Campus. Wheatland, WY. High
tunnels or hoop houses can be incorporated into your gardening and cropping
practices as a means to extend the growing season and increase specialty crop
production - even in Wyoming. This educational workshop will provide you with
the knowledge to build a high tunnel utilizing locally available materials, on
your own property. Jeff Edwards, (307) 837-2000, jedward4@uwyo.eduhttp://www.uwyo.edu/ces/_files/events/2013-hightunnel-workshop.pdf